Note: This concentration is being terminated as of September 2023. No new students can study this concentration moving forward. Current students of this concentration will be able to finish their studies until they graduate.

General Information

The undergraduate concentration in biological anthropology deals with the biological nature of humans past and present, looking beyond purely biological phenomena to understand the interactions between biology, behavior, and environment.

The subdiscipline of paleoanthropology documents the biological history of humans and analyzes those relationships for past humans in conjunction with archaeology. The subdiscipline of human biology studies physiology, genetics, nutrition, and epidemiology in modern human populations throughout the world in order to understand the relationships between biology, behavior, and environment.

This concentration provides students with the background and skills for further graduate study in anthropology and for professional study in the medical sciences. It also provides students with many other transferable skills, including a biocultural perspective on human biology and culture and the ability to analyze data, interpret findings, and communicate them effectively. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to conduct independent projects at other institutions, including the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

 

BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR REQUIREMENTS [Minimum requirement of 10 courses | 30 credits]
COURSE: COURSE DESCRIPTION: COURSES:
Required core courses 9
ANTH 102 Being Human: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
ANTH 103 Introduction to Human Evolution 3
ANTH 319 Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Social Sciences/or equivalent 3
At least one course dealing with a geographic area, such as 3
ANTH 202 Archaeology of Eastern North America 3
ANTH 312 Ethnography of Southeast Asia 3
ANTH 314 Cultures of the United States 3
ANTH 331 The Most Ancient Near East 3
ANTH 333 Roots of Ancient India: Archaeology of South Asia 3
ANTH 349 Cultures of Latin America 3
ANTH 353 Chinese Culture and Society 3
At least three courses dealing with biological anthropology, such as 9
ANTH 302 Darwinian Medicine 3
ANTH 323 AIDS: Epidemiology, Biology, and Culture 3
ANTH 355 Paleodiet(s)?: Understanding Food and Diet Past and Present 3
ANTH 367 Topics in Evolutionary Biology 3
ANTH 370 Field Seminar in Paleoanthropology 3
ANTH 377 Human Osteology 3
ANTH 378 Reproductive Health: An Evolutionary Perspective 3
ANTH 396 Undergraduate Research in Evolutionary Biology 3
Approved anthropology electives (Minimum three courses) 9
Total Credits 30

BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY MINOR REQUIREMENTS [Minimum requirement of 5 courses | 15 credits]

COURSE: COURSE DESCRIPTION: CREDITS:
Required core courses 6
ANTH 102 Being Human: Introduction to Social and Cultural Anthropology 3
ANTH 103 Introduction to Human Evolution 3
At least one geographic area course AND two approved biological anthropology electives 9
Total Credits 15


Click here for a PDF version of Biological Anthropology course requirements and a list of approved electives.